After more than a decade of planning, construction will begin later this year on Lindsay’s first-ever permanent community skatepark — thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the efforts of Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lake (BGC Kawarthas) and others in the community.
BGC Kawarthas has received a $475,000 grant under the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund – Capital Stream for the “Skate to a Better Future” project. The funds will help with the design and construction of the community skatepark as well as equipment costs.
“A new skatepark will be a fantastic addition to our community and will be a hub where youth can gather to participate in social sports like skateboarding and biking,” said Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, who attended a funding announcement on Friday afternoon (March 25) at BGC Kawarthas in Lindsay. “This is a long-awaited project for Lindsay and I’m thrilled this grant will be able to bring the project to life with the help and guidance of BGC Kawarthas.”
The skatepark will be located next to the club’s outdoor basketball courts and will be completely accessible to George Street. Construction will begin in fall 2022. Once completed, the skatepark will be compatible with scooters, BMX bikes, and skateboards and will be available seven days a week for club participants as well as the public.
“The addition of a skatepark reinforces our value and impact to the community as a hub for children and youth,” said BGC Kawarthas executive director Amy Terrill. “With our youth services and sports teams adding programming to complement the public use of the new skatepark, we see it as an important way to offer safe recreational activities and support community health and well-being. That’s why we’re calling it our Skate to a Better Future project.”
Planning for the community skatepark at BGC Kawarthas began in 2010, when the club held focus groups with youth and the community. Since then, support for the project has continued to grow to include club participants, the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, the Lindsay business community, and active youth groups.
“I would like to congratulate BGC Kawarthas for turning this vision into reality,” said Kawartha Lakes police chief Mark Mitchell. “A purpose-built skatepark will address a void in our municipal recreation infrastructure and will attract young people who may not participate in more traditional recreational activities.”
“BGC Kawarthas is ideally suited to be the caretaker of this facility and to ensure that it is a safe and welcoming environment for all,” he added. “As chair of the advisory committee for the Kawartha Lakes community safety and well-being plan, I am also excited that the skatepark will be focused on children and youth, which is one of the priority areas in our plan.”
For more information about BGC Kawarthas, visit www.bgckawarthas.com.
BGC Kawarthas’ “Skate to a Better Future” project aims to begin construction on the new community skatepark in fall 2022. (Graphic courtesy of BGC Kawarthas)
